Canon sticks a numeric keypad on the X Mark I Mouse Slim

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Depending on your preferences the numeric keypad on a keyboard may be essential or a complete waste of plastic. Even those who want one have to make a compromise when using most laptops, but Canon has come up with a novel solution to offering numeric keypad functionality without extending the length of your keyboard.

The Canon X Mark I Mouse adds the numeric keypad/calculator on the area of a mouse where you usually rest the palm of your hand. It also has a 10-digit display for quick calculations just like you get on a normal calculator.

As a mouse it’s not bad either. The wireless connection is Bluetooth and the precision is 1200dpi. You can also choose between a black or white finish and it ships with 2x AAA batteries and a nylon drawstring pouch for storage. The X Mark works with both Windows and Mac OS.

It won’t add much weight to your laptop bag at 135 grams, and you are doing your bit for the environment when purchasing one as each mouse is constructed from recycled plastic reclaimed from old Canon products.

If you’re a mobile user this could be an easy way to get a numeric keypad without investing in a separate USB plug-in device. As it forms part of a mouse you also get to bypass using a trackpad which some people (myself included) don’t like using.

The one sticking point is how this will feel in the hand. Will the buttons under your palm be something you get used to, or a constant annoyance? There also doesn’t seem to be any way to switch the keys off completely, so you could end up filling the display with numbers everytime you move your hand. Stopping recognition on your PC is done by holding down one of the buttons on the mouse, and it is turned off by default.

As for the cost, it’s just become available in the UK for £35 (US$57) and is up for pre-order in the U.S. Is it worth that price to get you a portable numeric keypad?